Golf and pony fanatic and all-around funny guy, Mickey Rooney was born Joe Yule Jr. to a couple of vaudevillains (a comic and a chorus gal). He made his film debut as a midget in 1926, at the age of six, in the movie Not to Be Trusted. The next year, he got into the big time when he starred in a serial, based on the comic, Mickey McGuire.

Always one to show off and get into trouble, Mickey's career advanced even further during a comedic game of table tennis. David O Selznick caught his improvised act and plugged him at MGM, which eventually landed him a role in Manhattan Melodrama. He was well known for his role as Andy Hardy, and starred in The Hardy Family. Mickey went on to play in over 200 movies, costarring with many great leading ladies (such as Judy Garland and Lana Turner and marriage to Ava Gardner).